Xcom style combat, but also some missions being based on puzzle games would be my idea of heaven ... like, you beam down expecting a fight but the locals greet you warmly and ask for help rerouting a power supply grid or something. Then on the next planet, you've got a fight on your hands. Etc
Honestly, this looks every inch the spiritual sequel to the 1999 game "birth of the federation" (if you're in the US there's a good chance you didn't experience it because it was Europe only). I have faith that paradox have the chops not to drop the ball here, but only time will tell.